OUTBOARD RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 12

OUTBOARD RACING.

CHAMPIONSHIP CONTESTS

EVENTS AT PANMURE BASIN

MANY INTERESTED SPECTATORS,

The thrill of outboard racing attracted a record crowd to the Panrnure Basin on Saturday afternoon, when tlie outboard division of the New Zealand Power-Boat Association held its annual championship meeting. There were ten events and several very close finishes were witnessed. The surface of the water was rather choppy, preventing the boats from attaining their maximum speeds, but practically every event was closely contested, and the excellence of the handicapping resulted in exciting finishes. In the championship events the racing was steady, but a better spectacle was provided in the "handicaps, when tho fields were larger.

A minor accident occurred at tho start of die championship for D class boats, when the competitors crossed the lino together. Caught in the wash of the leading boats, Holdfast became momentarily out of control and struck the stern of Pug. The impact was sufficient to cause Holdfast to capsize, the driver, Mr. I. B. Stewart, being thrown into the water. He righted his craft without assistance, but an examination revealed a hole in the hull. The battery leads to Pug's engine were disconnected and the boat was not ready in time for the rerun, which was contested by only two of the original starters, Miss VVilma and Elto. The race was rather tame and although Pug joined in a lap lato she had no chance of overtaking the other starters.

The results arc as follows: A Class Championship.—British Maid (H. K. Woodroffe), 1; Miss Clevedon, Junior ('l'. M. Roberts). '2. Tlio only starters. In tlio first hip British Maid took tlio lend and won comfortably, in u sealed handicap event judged on the same race Miss Clcvedon (255) was placed first. Time, 8m Us. B Class Championship.—Pegasus (J. S. Dickson). 1; Itait (C. It. Turnbul), 2; Blue Bird (J. Pengelly). 3. .Five of tho six competitors crossed the lino in a bunch and Pegasus went ahead in the first hundred yards. On handicap. Blue Bird (lm 355) was first and Itsit (lm 235) was second. Time. Cm 51s. C Class Championship.—r laming Youth (L. J. Hopwood), 1; Nymph Junior (N. Farrell), 2. Obviously the fastest boat. Flaming Youth had an easy win and lapped Nymph Junior on tho post. Gee Whiz broke down in the firßt lap. Flaming Youth also won the scaled handicap. Time. 5m 435. D Class Championship.—Miss Wilma (J. Johnson),,t; Elto (C. J. Collings), 2. Pug started a lap late, the race being a duel between Miss Wilms and Elto. Miss Wilnia gradually drew away to win by a good margin. On handicap, Elto won. Time, stn 3s. • , Runabout Championship.—Pastime (L. Palmer), 1; Nymph (E. J. Schofield), 2; Chancit 11. (J. Rcilly), 3. Nymph got away well and was rotind first, but Pastime was close behind, and got past in the second lap. On handicap, Chancit 11. w-as first, Redstreak second and Nymph third. Time, Cm 2t'is. Free For All Race.—Zip (H. Upton), 3m 15s. 1: Itsit (C. R. Turnbul). 2m 30s. 2: Miss Wilnia (J. Johnson), scr. 3. There was a large field, tho starters being Miss Clevedon. Zip. Ilopalong, Rags 11.. British Maid, Blue Bird, Itsit, Nymph Junior. Velox, Flaming Youth, Pug and Miss Wilma. The scratch boats soon diminished their handicap, but Pug. which eventually finished third, was disqualified for not starting at the correct time. Bona-fide Cruiser Handicap.—Nymph (E. J. Schofield). 2m 20s, I; Lady Eve (E. R. Butler), lm 255. 2: Redskin (F. D. Pidgeon), 2m, 3. All tho starters were caught napping well away from tho line and the time was comparatively slow in consequence. Lady Eve had motor trouble in the early stages, hnt picked up to take second place. Time. 8m 335. Three-minute Class Handicap.—Zip (H. Upton). 2m 15s. 1: Itsit (C. R. Turnbul). lm 355. 2: Rags 11. (755), 3. T'lero were nine starters and the race was closely contested. Time, 12s. Runabout Handicap.—Nymph, 30s, 1; Redskin, 2m ss, 2; Chancit 11., tin 503, 3, The scratch boat. Pastime, which started a lap behind Redskin, stopped in the early stages and Lady Eye also retired. Nymph showed good speed to win in a close finish. Time, 9m 20s. , Final Race. 2m 10s Class.—Miss Wilma scr, 1; Pug, scr, 2; Elto, 20s, 3. There was a great race between the two scratch boats, which soon overtook Elto. Miss Wilma taking second place to Flaming Youth and Pug third. By clever cornering Pug's driver held Miss Wilma, which went rather wide. Entering the last lap Miss Wilnia and Pug passed Flaming Youth, while Elto also got past and took third place. The winner's fastest lap was lm lis, equal to the lap record. Time. 6m 12s.